Moving maids: dynamics of domestic service and development
Revista Política y Cultura › Núm. 23, Abril 2005
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Resumen
I. Development and domestic service: potential relationships -II. Characteristics of domestic service -A. Characteristics of domestic servants -B. Forms of domestic service -C. Domestic service and migration -III. Case studies of domestic service and development -A. Case of Malaysia -B. Case of Zambia -C. Case of Canada -IV. Concluding observations -A. Exploitation and abuse -B. An anachronism? -C. Domination: patterns of change and continuity -D. Change
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Extracto
Moving maids: dynamics of domestic service and development
The relationship between domestic service1 and development has been little explored.2 How might development (meaning economic growth and modernization) influence and be influenced by domestic service (loosely defined as housework and childcare performed by a non-relative for compensation)? In Part I, I introduce an array of potential connections between economic development and domestic service, followed by general trends in the magnitude of the domestic service industry. In Part II, I briefly discuss characteristics of domestic servants and service. Moving beyond generalizations, I dedicate Part III to descriptions of patterns in domestic service, economic growth, modernization, and migration in three distinct contexts: Malaysia, Zambia, and Canada. The case studies reveal both unique and shared dynamics, and pose questions about servant-state relationships, racial relations, gender role (re-)construction, class and notions of modernity, and how these issues interface with development. Concluding observations in Part IV include the reiteration of trends evidenced in these (and other) case studies, as well as the concerns they spawn. I. Development and domestic service: potential relationships A common hypothesis is that economic growth goes hand-in-hand with a shrinking domestic service industry for at least three reasons:3 - Economic growth increases jobs, allows for higher income, and diversifies work opportunities. Compared to other jobs, domestic service becomes less desirable due to its low pay, long hours, relations of dependency and paternalism, abuse, informality, etcetera. - Economic growth establishes material and technical conditions that may simplify housework. For example, large homes are substituted by smaller apartments. Urbanization brings closer services and supplies that aid in housework, such as laundry, food preparation, and childcare. Accompanying advances in infrastructure (e.g. electricity, piped and heated water) allow for use of blenders, stoves, washing machines, dish washers, microwave ovens, and vacuum cleaners, all said to make housework easier. - Cultural changes that often accompany development may reduce the incidence of domestic service. For example, smaller households may not need as much domestic support, and employing a domestic servant may become "old-fashioned" or "politically incorrect". Other economic growth dynamics work against the more growth-less service hypothesis: - Increased urbanization and migration to urban areas often accompany economic growth, and it is precisely in urban areas and among migrant workers where domestic service flourishes.4 - Domestic work may provide a means of incorporating employees into a newly instituted world of...
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